Text scam threatens to suspend driver’s license, here’s what to know
WARREN COUNTY, Ky. – At first, getting a text message from the Kentucky Driver Licensing Regional Office may seem legit. However, local law enforcement is warning scammers are behind some of these messages.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office says the fraudulent text messages claim a victim owes money for traffic violations. They may even threaten suspension of a victim’s license.
However, authorities say this is a scam.
The messages are not from an official government agency.
How to spot the scam
Here are some red flags to watch for, according to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office:
- Suspicious links. The message often directs you to a non-government website. Official Kentucky sites will end in .gov, not random domains.
- Urgent threats. Scammers try to create panic by threatening license suspension or legal action.
- Unexpected texts about violations. Government agencies do not normally notify residents of legal matters via unsolicited text messages.
- Foreign or unusual phone numbers. The message will at times come from an international number instead of a Kentucky or U.S. government line.
- Requests to reply “Y” or click links. This is a common way to confirm your number is active and lead you to a scam site.
Authorities say not to click any links or respond to a message, to delete the text and, if you’re concerned about your license status, to contact the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet directly with official channels.
If you receive a message like this or have questions, the community can contact the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
